"I will be grateful for the help, as I have always been." Lillith's smile wobbled slightly. Vex was being kind, but Lillith could not help thinking Vex would rather have Zahra's company tonight than hers. And why should she not? Zahra had been her friend and they had fought together, when Lillith had run away.

She knew it was uncharitable to think of herself in that way or to attribute any deceptiveness to Vex's words, and so she pushed the thoughts aside determinedly. "Where shall we begin?"